Calif. Gov. Brown announces Appointments for Feb. 8, 2017 including State Council on Developmental Disabilities

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Sid Voorakkara, 46, of San Diego, has been appointed deputy director of external affairs at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), where he has served as senior business development specialist since 2013. Voorakkara has been a partner at Ten Page Memo LLC since 2012. He was statewide program officer and San Diego regional program officer at the California Endowment from 2005 to 2011, field director for public affairs at the United Nations Foundation from 2003 to 2004 and director of production and client services at Home Front Communications from 2000 to 2002.

Voorakkara was communications advisor in the Office of House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt from 1999 to 2000, western communications strategist for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1997 to 1998 and was a staffer on several federal, state and local campaigns from 1993 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,004. Voorakkara is a Democrat.

Maria Marquez, 52, of Pittsburg, has been appointed to the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Marquez was an advocate at People First of California in 2012 and a peer self-advocate coordinator at Disability Rights California from 2005 to 2012. She was a consumer advocate at the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center from 2004 to 2005 and an inclusion specialist at Sherry Beamer and Associates Inc. from 2003 to 2004. Marquez was a peer support specialist at the Family Resource Library and Assistive Technology Center from 2001 to 2003 and an assistant camp counselor at the AbilityFirst Joan and Harry A. Mier Center in 1994. She is a member of the Regional Center of the East Bay’s Board of Directors and Consumer Advisory Committee and serves as vice president of the center’s Self-Determination Program Local Advisory Committee. Marquez is a member of the Developmental Disabilities Council of Contra Costa County. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Marquez is a Democrat.

Jacquelyn Crabtree, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Crabtree has been owner of four Aveda Salon and Spa Stores since 2005. She was manager and a hairstylist at Maida’s Touch Salon from 1999 to 2005 and a bookkeeper at Wild Carter and Oliver Law Firm from 1991 to 1999. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Crabtree is a Democrat.

Andrew Drabkin, 48, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, where he has served since 2013. Drabkin has been a database analyst for SEIU United Healthcare Workers since 2015. He was director of information technology for the California Democratic Party from 2010 to 2014, where he was deputy director of information technology from 2006 to 2010. Drabkin was staff at Phil Giarrizzo Campaign Consultants from 1999 to 2006. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Drabkin is a Democrat.

Lisa Thong, 33, of Rosemead, has been reappointed to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, where she has served since 2016. Thong has been account supervisor of public relations at IW Group Inc. since 2014. She was senior special assistant in the California State Controller’s Office from 2012 to 2014 and an editorial assistant at HarperCollins Publishers from 2010 to 2011. Thong was an administrative director at the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment from 2008 to 2009 and a field representative in the Office of California State Senator Jack Scott from 2006 to 2008. She was a development assistant at East West Players from 2004 to 2005. Thong is a member of the OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Los Angeles Chapter. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Thong is registered without party preference.

Kari Williams, 32, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, where she has served since 2013. Williams has been owner at Mahogany Hair Revolution Salon and Trichology Clinic since 2007. She was a hair stylist at Eclectic Salon from 2006 to 2007. Williams earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in trichology from the Elan Center for Trichology and a Master of Arts degree in anatomical and nutritional study from the International Institute of Trichology. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Williams is a Democrat.

Christopher Simmons has been a working journalist since his first magazine sale in 1984. He has since written for wide variety of print and online publications covering lifestyle, tech and entertainment. He is an award-winning author, designer, photographer, and musician. He is a member of ASCAP and PRSA. He is the founder and CEO of Neotrope®, based in Torrance, CA, USA.